"A must-have game for all RPG fans on the go!"

Although the Game Boy Advance is already out (I've had mine for a while), Nintendo and several third parties are still pumping out games for Nintendo's relatively short-lived handheld. This game, a re release of the classic NES RPG, is well worth buying, even if you already have a Game Boy Advance. And while I may have been a little generous with my review of Final Fantasy Legends III, I know that this game richly deserves its score.
Players take on the role of a 16-year old boy who seeks to avenge the death of his father, who fell at the hands of the Demon Lord Baramos. You are asked several questions at the game's outset in an attempt to determine your personality, and for me, it was relatively accurate. You can also choose three additional party members from 8 classes. You can also choose whether your characters are male or female, and can decide the personalities of your additional characters by giving them certain seeds, all of which adds up to a deep, satisfying game.

Graphics: 9/10

The backgrounds and towns in the game are beautiful for a GBC game, and the monsters look pretty cool. Character and monster designs in the game are done by Dragon Ball Z creator Akira Toriyama. And while the characters don't look exceptional on the field, it's relatively to tell the differences between classes of characters. While you can't see your characters in battles, the monster animations are surprisingly smooth for a GBC game.

Sound: 9/10

The music in the game is pretty nice, and the game also has some interesting sound effects. Nothing truly exceptional, but the games sound effects are cool nonetheless.

Control: 9/10

Control is pretty solid, as it's easy to navigate most of the menus, but there are some times when it's hard to figure out how to enter in certain commands. The button configuration is simple, and players shouldn't have too much trouble getting the controls down.

Gameplay: 10/10

This is where this game REALLY shines. With tons of monsters, items, spells, and classes to choose from, plus the fact that the game is 40+ hours in length, adds to lots of fun for more than just one car trip. The game also has monster medals to collect, which you can trade with your friends via a link cable. Ther's not much left to say that I didn't say in the header, but there is a lot to say about how fun this game is.

All in all, if you're a fan of retro RPGs, are looking for a quality handheld title, or just like Akira Toriyama's work, Dragon Warrior III is a great buy, and a quality title at the end of the Game Boy Color's life span, so go get yourself a copy from your local game store.

Overall Score: 10/10
Average Price: $29.99
ESRB Rating: Teen

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 09/05/01, Updated 09/05/01